In light of my recent analysis of the lyrics of the most popular music in the past year, I wanted to take a look at the lemma of work in Billboard's year-end Top Ten charts (1951-2016). Using all variant forms of the word (besides the compound firework and workout) revealed 166 uses of work forms, from a-working in 1963's "Sugar Shack" to the 89 uses of work in 2016's "Work." Thus, the total number of uses of the bare work form in the latter song is greater than all forms in the rest of the collection.

A few of my favorites from the collection of Top Ten work songs are as follows:

Elton John singing his smash hit Philadelphia Freedom at the Royal Opera House. I just love it with the entire orchestral arrangement. Don't take anything away from the boys in the band though.....

Click to subscribe: http://bit.ly/1D9gmWO Listen to Earth, Wind & Fire on Spotify: http://bit.ly/1HqAz0t Album's from Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes: Click here to buy: Amazon: http://bit.ly/1boqrcX That's the Way of the World: Click here to buy iTunes: http://bit.ly/1yNtu9d Google Play: http://bit.ly/1yNtu9d Now, Then & Forever: Click here to buy iTunes/Google Play: http://bit.ly/1E5HPOs Greatest Hits: Click here to buy iTunes: http://bit.ly/1GdS2Ib Google Play: http://bit.ly/1GdS2Ib More from Earth, Wind & Fire: September: http://bit.ly/1HPvpvx Fantasy: http://bit.ly/1HqADgK Let's Groove: http://bit.ly/1D9lFph Follow Earth, Wind & Fire: Website: http://bit.ly/1tqQKDp Facebook: http://bit.ly/1Oajuxu Twitter: http://bit.ly/1PabuJV Classic Earth, Wind and Fire video from 1975 show Midnight Special

With Billy Griffin this line-up sounded great and the pink suits were so camp! Love both songs, they should have had more hits.

And a few others not in the collection:

Video ripped from www.chaingangpictures.com so visit their website and give them the credits

Music video by R.E.M. performing Finest Worksong (2003 Digital Remaster).

Donate